Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A breezy start in Scotland, particularly in the north, the wind easing to fairly small effects; light wind England and Wales. Dry and sunny for most hills, chilly temperatures. Some light rain affecting south Wales through the day, the associated cloud drifting into north Wales and the south Pennines with time.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery early, easing; mostly sunny
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-35mph from dawn, soon starting to ease with a southwesterly shift, 15-20mph or less. Greatest chance of low speeds towards the south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though the breeze impedes walking on high terrain early in the day.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare if any fragments of cloud, or mist lower down at first, all clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely sunny, at times weakened by variable high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C or locally 3C in strongest sun exposure.
Freezing Level
700-800m plus frost in most glens and sheltered lower slopes from dawn, rising to 1100-1200m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 40mph, strongest over higher Cairngorms and very gusty in places including downslope toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking and balance affected on exposed ridges, more challenging in places. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Chance light rain afternoon
The morning will be dry. A chance of light patchy rain from the south afternoon, mostly confined to hills near Drumochter.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern areas
Cloud banks drifting over some southern slopes above 800-900m, may persist for several hours at least. Much less cloud northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% south, to 70% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most common toward the north of the Cairngorms where visibility very good; hazier southwards.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, locally higher northern Cairngorms; rising a degree. Directly in the wind feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost in glens and sheltered higher areas from dawn, thawing largely above the summits, locally freezing highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 35-45mph, with strong gusts early. Easing slightly with time, 30-35mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous-to-arduous in exposure most of the day with significant wind chill. Strong buffeting gusts early in the day.
How Wet?
Drizzle early, more rain with time
Some fine drizzle in cloud on high terrain from before dawn (starting damp on exposed rocks), then rain arriving from the west, though often light with dry breaks. Turning to snow on tops with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, particularly south
Cloud shrouds most terrain above 900m all day, lower on the southern slopes, often down to at least 600m. Slopes north of Cairngorm plateau will see the highest breaks, but through afternoon, cloud reaching middle slopes here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun on lower northern slopes of the Cairngorms. Variable visibility though often poor due to fog, rain, and haze to the east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C lowering to 0C. Feeling like -8 to -12C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Lowering with time to touch high summits, down to 900m into evening.
Planning Outlook
Varying conditions over the next couple of weeks as areas of high pressure build across the British Isles then slip eastwards. Some dry and bright days with light winds mixed with periods of strengthening southerly winds bringing occasional rain coming in from the west - Thursday this week sees rain move increasingly onto northwestern hills. Temperatures will vary, often lifting just above freezing to higher tops, but occasionally dropping back below freezing - chillier air briefly later this week. Some frosts into valleys during clear-sky nights. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only patchy around highest tops in England and Wales with little impact on walking.